HIGHWAY ENGINEERING – SELF STUDY GUIDE

A. Topics not covered during my Lecture

 Elaborate on the factors to consider in transportation planning.

 List the elements of a transportation system.

 Draw flowcharts to define the following:

o Elements of the Transport Sector
o The highway design process as a whole

 List the 3 main levels involved in high way planning.

 Differentiate between mobility and accessibility.

 Describe the cyclic interaction between transport demand and land use.

 List the elements comprising a road project cycle.

 Define the term road project appraisal with reference to the Overseas Road Note 5.

 Write short notes on the different types of road projects.

 What are the factors influencing highway design?

 Some of these factors are interrelated. Discuss

o Design speed, function and volume.
o Design speed and topography.
o Volume and Level of service
o Cost and service

 Elaborate on 5 reasons for justifying the construction of a major highway link.

 Explain the terms:

Carriageway, Kerb, Pavement, Right of way, Terrain, Links, Arterial, Access,
Collector, Expressway

 Differentiate between road location in an urban area as compared to a rural area.

 Elaborate on the factors affecting road location.

 Name the 3 main types of surveys done for road location.

 Define the driving task and list the factors affecting road users (drivers, pedestrians,
etc.) and vehicles.
  Define the perception-reaction time.

 Define the term highway capacity, traffic volume and level of service.

 Elaborate on the factors affecting highway capacity and level of service respectively.

B. Topics covered during my Lectures

Road Hierarchy

 Mobility and accessibility

 Road Types

Capacity and LOS

 Definitions
 Factors affecting capacity and LOS

Traffic Surveys and Analysis

 Types of Traffic Studies

 Methodology
 Advantages / Disadvantages

Traffic Volume and Speed

 Normal Traffic, Diverted Traffic, Generated Traffic

 Definitions of basic quantities – Spacing, Headway, Lane Occupancy, Clearance,
Gap
 Flow, Volume, Density
o Equation
o Graphs/ Explanation

Cross-Sectional Elements

 Pavement Surface Characteristics, Camber, Width of carriageway, Shoulder, Kerbs,

Road margins, Rights of way, Sight distance, Crossfalls, Provision for non-motorised
vehicles
 Sight Distance
o Types of sight distance
o Factors affecting sight distance
C. Calculations

 Traffic Flow and Volume

o DDHV
o Flow, Density
o TMS and SMS

 Axle Loading
o Assumptions
o Calculations – Damaging Effect

 Horizontal Alignment

 Vertical Alignment